Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what additional fiscal steps he is taking to support agricultural businesses subject to exemption from business rates but experiencing acute financial difficulties during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government has set out a package of measures to support businesses, including agricultural businesses, through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19, including those businesses not eligible for business rate relief.

This support for business includes the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan scheme for small and medium-sized businesses, a statutory sick pay relief package, the HMRC Time To Pay Scheme, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms continue to keep people in employment, and a new lending facility from the Bank of England for larger firms.

These measures provide a comprehensive, coordinated and coherent response to what is a serious and evolving economic situation. As the wider economic picture becomes clearer, the Government will continue to act to get the nation through the impacts of COVID-19 and the Government stands ready to announce further action wherever necessary.